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Kentucky judge rejects Bob Baffert stay but delays suspension to April 4

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Kentucky judge rejects Bob Baffert stay but delays suspension to April 4

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A Kentucky decide has denied Bob Baffert’s request to remain his 90-day suspension however delayed it till April 4 to permit his representatives to hunt emergency aid by the state’s Court docket of Appeals.

Kentucky Horse Racing Fee stewards final month suspended Baffert for 90 days, fining him $7,500, and disqualified Medina Spirit for having the corticosteroid betamethasone in his system when he gained the Kentucky Derby final yr. Baffert’s attraction to racing officers was denied, however the suspension that was scheduled to start March 8 was delayed pending a court docket listening to.

Franklin Circuit Decide Thomas Wingate stated Monday that “the court docket understands the gravity of this ruling” on Baffert and can alleviate the impression by staying implementation of the suspension. He added, “Nonetheless, absent aid from a reviewing court docket, the penalties imposed by Stewards Rulings 21-0009 and 21-0010 shall take impact on April 4, 2022.”

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Coach Bob Baffert wins his seventh Kentucky Derby after successful the 147th Working of the Kentucky Derby on Might 1, 2021 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
(Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)

Baffert legal professional Clark Brewster in an announcement expressed disappointment within the court docket’s choice and stated, “Given the significance of the matter, we intend to instantly attraction to the Kentucky Court docket of Appeals.”

Attorneys for Baffert have argued that the betamethasone in Medina Spirit’s system got here from a topical ointment, fairly than an injection, which is banned. Racing officers have stated irrespective of the supply, betamethasone just isn’t allowed on race day.

If upheld, the suspension would start on the tail finish of the qualifying season for the Kentucky Derby scheduled for Might 7 at Churchill Downs. It will successfully take away the Corridor of Fame coach from collaborating within the Triple Crown, which incorporates the Preakness on Might 21 and Belmont Stakes on June 11.

Craig Robertson, one other of Baffert’s legal professionals, had argued in court docket final week that if Baffert was pressured to serve his suspension now, “he’s by no means going to get these days again if he wins on attraction.”

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Legal professionals for the fee cited 4 remedy violations by Baffert over the previous yr, and legal professional Jennifer Wolsing stated he “presents an elevated threat of re-offense.”

Wingate rejected Baffert’s declare of irreparable hurt and stated that not like an athlete’s finite interval of eligibility and efficiency, as a coach he’s extra of a coach than an athlete. The decide wrote that the horses, as athletes, have that finite window of eligibility and efficiency.

Wingate additionally stated the court docket was assured the suspension wouldn’t destroy Baffert’s profession and famous the coach’s intent to proceed. Any hurt from lacking the Triple Crown or different races can be financial and never irreparable below state legislation.

“Baffert’s observe file speaks for itself,” the ruling said.

KENTUCKY RACING BOARD UPHOLDS BOB BAFFERT’S SUSPENSION

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Wingate additionally wrote that the appeals court docket’s ruling in a 2015 case towards coach H. Graham Movement makes clear that the Kentucky Horse Racing Fee has the ability to determine rules, and that the impact of a banned drug is related.

Baffert additionally has sued Churchill Downs in federal court docket, searching for to problem his two-year suspension by the Louisville residence of the Kentucky Derby.

Animal Wellness Motion govt director Marty Irby applauded the Kentucky court docket’s choice and stated in an announcement that horse racing has been plagued “time and time once more” by Baffert’s scandals.

Irby added: “Baffert has snubbed the rule of legislation and evaded the implications of his actions for a lot too lengthy – the Run for the Roses can be paved with extra credibility than we’ve seen in a few years if Baffert and his horses will not be current.”

Racing officers in California, the place Baffert is predicated, have stated they are going to honor the suspension whether it is upheld. Medina Spirit died on Dec. 6 of a coronary heart assault following a exercise at a Santa Anita observe. A necropsy discovered no definitive trigger for his dying.

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PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo additionally expressed aid with the choice, saying in an announcement that horses nonetheless have to be protected against Baffert’s “experimental pharmacology.”

Guillermo added, “If Baffert is suspended, we hope he’ll use these 90 days to ponder a everlasting retirement from racing.”

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Bomb-making materials found at New Orleans Airbnb potentially tied to Bourbon Street terrorist: report

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Bomb-making materials found at New Orleans Airbnb potentially tied to Bourbon Street terrorist: report

Bomb-making materials were reportedly found at a New Orleans Airbnb, as authorities investigate a possible connection to the truck-ramming terror attack that killed at least 15 people and injured over 30 others on Bourbon Street during a New Year’s celebration. 

A small fire broke out at a suspected Airbnb property located in the 1300 block of Mandeville Street in the St. Roch neighborhood of New Orleans around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. 

The New Orleans Fire Department evacuated dozens of people from nearby homes and contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FOX 8 reported. 

Bomb-making materials were discovered at the property, sources confirmed to the outlet. 

The FBI confirmed at a news conference Thursday that FBI and ATF agents have secured that house on Mandeville Street and “that location is being searched for potential evidence.” Two laptops were recovered from that address, the FBI said, and an additional three cell phones linked to the now-deceased suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, were being analyzed by investigators. 

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SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS FBI INVESTIGATES ACT OF TERRORISM AFTER BOURBON STREET ATTACK

At Thursday’s news conference, ATF said that the Mandeville address is still being processed and the ATF national response team – comprised of certified fire investigators, explosives specialists, fire engineers and electrical engineers – were still working additional leads to help identify how the fire started the morning the attack unfolded across town on Bourbon Street. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the listed owner of the Airbnb rental but did not immediately hear back. 

New Orleans firetrucks outside a home believed to be connected to the suspect in the deadly attack on Bourbon Street on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

“They said they found bomb-making material in the yellow house and wanted the bomb squad to look it over,” Bob Koenig, a neighbor, told FOX 8 on Wednesday.

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Authorities investigate a home believed to be connected to the suspect in the deadly attack on Bourbon Street

Authorities investigate a home believed to be connected to the suspect in the deadly attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

After Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas, drove a Ford pick-up truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street at approximately 3:15 a.m. local time New Year’s Day, the FBI began investigating the matter as an “act of terrorism.” In addition to crashing into the crowd, Jabbar exited the vehicle and fired on law enforcement, who returned fire, and the suspect was declared dead at the scene, according to the bureau. 

BOURBON STREET ATTACK ON NEW YEAR’S REVELERS JUST THE LATEST CASE OF TERRORISTS USING TRUCKS TO KILL

Authorities investigate a home believed to be connected to the suspect in the deadly attack on Bourbon Street

Law enforcement outside a home believed to be connected to the suspect in the deadly attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

An ISIS flag, weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED) were found in the vehicle, and other potential IEDs were found in the French Quarter, the FBI said. 

After initially suspecting accomplices could be involved, the FBI said Thursday that the bureau now believes Jabbar acted alone. 

Authorities investigate a home believed to be connected to the suspect in the deadly attack on Bourbon Street

A bomb-sniffing dog is seen outside a home believed to be connected to the suspect in the deadly attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

 

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The FBI denied any link to the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas that took place Wednesday morning. 

In Las Vegas early Wednesday, a Tesla Cybertruck loaded with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel, killing the driver and sole occupant inside and injuring at least seven others nearby. 

“As you know, there’s also an FBI investigation in Las Vegas. We are following up on all potential leads and not ruling anything out. However, at this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas,” FBI Deputy Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division Christopher Raia told reporters.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been updated to remove photos and information attributed to a neighbor at Jabbar’s home in Houston. It can be found here.

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New Orleans attack: Investigation continues, as FBI says no other suspects involved

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New Orleans attack: Investigation continues, as FBI says no other suspects involved

The FBI on Thursday said investigators now believe the New Orleans terror attack suspect acted alone, despite previously considering a possible link to the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside President-elect Trump’s Las Vegas hotel. 

The FBI made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday. They have identified Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the driver who crashed a rented truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens more. He was killed in a shootout with police afterward. 

“As you know, there’s also an FBI investigation in Las Vegas. We are following up on all potential leads and not ruling anything out. However, at this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas,” FBI Deputy Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division Christopher Raia told reporters Thursday.

Authorities had been investigating a potential military connection between Jabbar and the Las Vegas suspect, who law enforcement identified to The Associated Press as Matthew Livelsberger.

Supporting the FBI’s updated assessment, a U.S. defense official told Fox News on Thursday that there is no evidence from their military service to make any connection that the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas incident were related. 

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Both Jabbar and Livelsberger served at Fort Liberty — formerly known as Fort Bragg — in North Carolina, but a U.S. official said there was no overlap to their assignments there. They served at the same base, but at different times. And for context, more than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently stationed at Fort Liberty.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill previously told Fox News that there is evidence that Jabbar worked alongside accomplices to coordinate the attack. The FBI told Fox News later Thursday that they no longer believe other suspects were involved in the attack, which killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens of others.

Authorities say Jabbar considered killing his friends and family prior to the attack, but decided against it because he thought it would have less of an impact.

Jabbar had posted videos to social media prior to his attack expressing allegiance to the Islamic State. Investigators say Jabbar rented the truck used in the attack on Monday in Houston and then drove to New Orleans on Tuesday.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT VICTIMS OF NEW ORLEANS TERRORIST ATTACK

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Photo of Bourbon Street terrorist attack suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar. (@FBI via X)

“FBI special agents and our law enforcement partners are currently conducting a number of court-authorized search warrants in New Orleans and other states,” the bureau said in a statement. “The FBI’s Evidence Response Team continues to process the crime scene to meticulously gather all relevant evidence.”

SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS FBI INVESTIGATES ACT OF TERRORISM AFTER BOURBON STREET ATTACK

Investigators found guns in Jabbar’s vehicle and two improvised explosive devices inside coolers elsewhere in the French Quarter. The FBI says it obtained footage of Jabbar placing the two devices.

Police also recovered guns and two laptops that they believe belong to Jabbar.

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The FBI told congressional lawmakers on Thursday that it had zero information about Jabbar prior to his attack. They also said that while Jabbar has said he was “inspired” by ISIS, investigators have not found any evidence that he was directed by ISIS.

New Orleans hospitals treated a total of 37 victims who were injured in Wednesday’s attack. LCMC Health has not stated how many of those injured have since been discharged, nor has it clarified the condition of those still hospitalized.

Jabbar, a U.S. native born in Texas, had previously served in the U.S. military. Authorities are still investigating how and when he became radicalized.

Jabbar served in the Army as a Human Resource Specialist and Information Technology (IT) Specialist from March 2007 until January 2015.

OFFICIALS POSTPONE SUGAR BOWL IN  THE WAKE OF APPARENT TERROR ATTACK ON BOURBON STREET

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Following active duty, he served in the Army Reserves as an IT Specialist from January 2015 until July 2020.

During his tenure, he deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010.

After leaving the military, Jabbar obtained a job at Deloitte, earning a salary of roughly $120,000 per year. He ran into financial struggles following two divorces, however.

Liz Murrill

Attorney General of Louisiana Liz Murrill has threatened the death penalty for any accomplices of Shamsud-Din Jabbar. (Attorney General of Louisiana Liz Murrill )

Authorities searched an AirBnB in New Orleans believed to be connected to Jabbar. They also executed a search warrant at his main residence in Houston.

Relatives of Jabbar said he had been acting erratically in recent months. Dwayne Marsh, the husband of Jabbar’s ex-wife, said they stopped allowing his wife’s shared daughters to spend time with Jabbar, according to The New York Times.

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The attack led authorities to postpone the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night. The sporting event is now scheduled to take place on Thursday night, though some officials have called for the event to be delayed further.

NOTRE DAME CALLS ON FANS TO ‘JOIN US IN PRAYER’ FOLLOWING APPARENT TERROR ATTACK AHEAD OF SUGAR BOWL 

Meanwhile, President-elect Trump called on the CIA to get involved in the investigation, blasting Jabbar as “violent scum” and the current administration as “incompetent and corrupt.”

His statement came after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. It remains unclear whether the bombing, which killed one person who was inside the vehicle, is linked to the New Orleans attack. Authorities are investigating a possible military connection between Jabbar and the suspect in the Las Vegas case.

The FBI is conducting sweeps of potential residences in Las Vegas as well as Denver in relation to the Trump Hotel bombing.

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Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump Hotel, Las Vegas

An investigator photographs a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the lobby of President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday. At least one person was killed and seven wounded. (Wade Vandervort/AFP via Getty Images)

“Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership. The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job. They are incompetent and corrupt, having spent all of their waking hours unlawfully attacking their political opponent, ME, rather than focusing on protecting Americans from the outside and inside violent SCUM that has infiltrated all aspects of our government, and our Nation itself,” Trump wrote on social media.

“Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen to our Country. The CIA must get involved, NOW, before it is too late. The USA is breaking down – A violent erosion of Safety, National Security, and Democracy is taking place all across our Nation. Only strength and powerful leadership will stop it. See you on January 20th. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he added.

Fox News’ Liz Friden contributed to this report.

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Superdome welcomes Sugar Bowl fans after New Orleans terror attack

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Superdome welcomes Sugar Bowl fans after New Orleans terror attack

College football fans flocked to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday afternoon to get into the stadium ahead of the Sugar Bowl after it was postponed over a terror attack.

More than a dozen people were killed, and several more were injured, when Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the wee hours of New Year’s Day, officials said. The terror attack forced the postponement of the game between Georgia and Notre Dame.

Fans pass through security check points as they enter the Superdome fan zone ahead of the Sugar Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans.  (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Fans enter security

Fans pass through security check points as they enter the Superdome fan zone ahead of the Sugar Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans.  (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Fans pass through security check points as they enter the Caesars Superdome fan zone ahead of the Sugar Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans. 

Fans pass through security check points as they enter the Caesars Superdome fan zone ahead of the Sugar Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans.  (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

While some fans decided to go back home instead of attending the game, others were seen getting into the grounds around the Superdome and going through security.

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Authorities opened Bourbon Street hours before the game.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was going to attend the game.

“Security is going to be tight,” he said in an appearance on “Fox & Friends.” “We have all confidence that we’re gonna put this game on. The Superdome is completely secure. Again, the FBI continues to pour resources into the state.”

NOTRE DAME’S MARCUS FREEMAN TALKS TEAM MEETING AFTER SUGAR BOWL POSTPONED FOLLOWING TERROR ATTACK

Superdome security

Security and bomb-sniffing dogs check vehicles as they enter the Superdome parking garage ahead of the Sugar Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans.  (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Sugar Bowl officials said that pregame pageantry will begin at 2:15 p.m. CT with kickoff set for 3 p.m. CT. The pageantry starts with the national anthem, a Sugar Bowl light show and then performances by each school’s marching band.

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“We remain stunned and saddened by the New Year’s Day tragedy in New Orleans,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a post on X.

SWAT outside of Caesars Superdome

Local SWAT teams patrol outside the Caesars Superdome ahead of the Sugar Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Bomb-sniffing dogs search cars

Security and bomb-sniffing dogs check vehicles as they enter the Superdome parking garage ahead of the Sugar Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans.  (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

“We are also grateful for the work of so many to adjust and adapt to make a football game possible today for @GeorgiaFootball and @NDFootball.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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